14 DAY TRIAL // Remember the first articles hitting the web with news on the new Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer? They created quite a stir and everyone started casting opinions on whether the game would launch to be another controversial title from Rockstar, or maybe a softer one, leaving out the Hot Coffee scenes. But people know what to expect from a GTA IV title and it's not sunshine and lolly-pops, thus after the GTA IV trailer was released, New York officials weren't pleased at all with the scenery.
First of all, let's just say that Jack Thompson (attorney who dedicated his life to bringing Take-Two - owner of Rockstar, down) beat everyone to it. He was among the first who hinted that GTA IV would be no different, perhaps even more controversial than previous titles in the third-person series, and threatened to sue Take-Two, over and over until they sell the game only to the right people (not kids that is). The man kind of overreacts if you ask me but he's not far from the truth either, as Rockstar has stepped on one too many toes with the release of the year's most anticipated trailer - GTA IV Debut Trailer.
All this being said, here's what New York officials considered wrong with Rockstar's GTA IV Trailer and upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 title, as found on Planet Xbox 360: - "Setting Grand Theft Auto in the safest big city in America would be like setting Halo in Disneyland," said City Councilman Peter Vallone, chairman of the council's public safety committee; - "It's despicable to glamorize violence in games like these, regardless of how far-fetched the setting may be," were the words of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly; - "The mayor does not support any video game where you earn points for injuring or killing police officers," stated Jason Post, a spokesman for Mayor Bloomberg.
Guess not just Thompson is alone in this. Rockstar may have a bit of a problem on their hands. The game will launch no matter what, development is surely approaching a finish, but under what conditions? This fourth installment of the GTA series might just see the most numerous restrictions ever for a game. Hope for New Yorker gamers' sake that they don't ban it or anything.